An analysis of the daily district wise rainfall data from India Meteorological Department (IMD) for June 2025, the first month of India’s South West Monsoon 2025 shows that there were 415 instances (384 in June 2024[i], 451 in June 2023[ii], 462 in June 2022[iii] and 442 in June 2021) when district rainfall of a day was above 50 mm. The rainfall of India in June 2024 was 147.2 mm[iv], the rainfall in June 2023 was 148.6 mm, the rainfall of India in June 2022 was 152.3 mm[v]. The data and analysis are based on IMD’s daily district wise rainfall bulletins for the 24 hours ending at 0830 am each day.
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July 2025: Flash Flood Destroys Patikari Hydro Project in Himachal
(Feature Image: Dam site of Patikari HEP destroyed by the flash flood.)
A ‘cloudburst’ induced deluge on the intervening night of June 30 and July 01, 2025 has totally destroyed the Patikari Hydroelectric Power (HEP) project in Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh. The 16 Mw project was built in Gudah village on Bakhali khad (Kuklah stream) a tributary of Beas River upstream Pandoh dam. The main project structures including the dam site and powerhouse have been washed away in the disaster. The 12 workers of the project managed to escape in the nick of time.
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Andhra’s Polavaram Banakacherla Project: Another Kaleshwaram in the making?
The Andhra Pradesh’s proposed Polavaram Banakacherla Link Project (PBLP) to transfer Godavari flood waters to Rayalseema region through massively power consuming multi stage lift irrigation projects has all the signs like the ill-fated and controversial Kaleshwaram project of neighbouring Telangana.
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June 2025: District wise rainfall in India’s SW Monsoon
In the just concluded month June 2025, the first month of India’s South West 2025 monsoon, India received 180 mm rainfall, 8.89% above the normal June rainfall of 165.3 mm as per India Meteorological department. In June 2024 the rainfall was 147.2 mm, 11% below normal, June 2023 rainfall was 148.6 mm (10% below normal), in June 2022 the rainfall was 152.3 mm (8% below normal), in June 2021, the rainfall was 182.9 mm (about 11% above normal) and in June 2020, the rainfall was 196.9 mm (about 18% above normal) and in June 2019 it was 33% below normal. So in last seven years from 2019 to 2025, India had below normal rainfall in 4 years in June, and above normal in three years (2020, 2021, 2025). Nine times since 2008 June rainfall was below normal.
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DRP 30 June 2025: Dam Safety concerns arise as monsoon sets in
(Feature Image: Kabini Dam. Source: WRD, Karnataka)
The SouthWest Monsoon has just set in and dam safety issues are coming up in large number of dams in Karnataka, Telangana, besides dam disasters in Himachal Pradesh. This shows how much more we need to do to assure structural and operational safety of India’s dams in changing climate.
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June 2025: NHPC Parbati II, III HEPs damaged in floods
(Feature Image: Screen shot of remaining portion of washed away tin-shed of NHPC’s Parbati II HEP. Source: Anil Khatri Vlog)
In addition to severely damaging the Jiwa and Priyadarshini small hydro power projects, the ‘cloudburst’ induced flash floods on June 25, 2025 has also significantly affected the Parbati II & III projects in Sainj Valley of Kullu district in Himachal Pradesh.
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June 2025: ‘Cloudburst’ damages Jiwa hydro project in Sainj Valley, Himachal Pradesh
(Feature Image: Submerged powerhouse of Jiwa SHP in Siund, Sainj. Source: Amar Ujala)
A massive flash flood following a ‘cloudburst’ has totally damaged the powerhouse and weir site of the Jiwa Small Hydroelectric Project (SHP) in Sainj Valley of Kullu district, Himachal Pradesh on June 25, 2025. The powerhouse of 1 Mw SHP is located in Siund village area near the confluence point of Jiwa nullah with Pin Parbati river. Its weir site is located about 2 km upstream on the Jiwa stream.
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June 2025: Indira Priyadarshini HEP in Himachal: Workers missing, Project damaged
(Feature image rescue work in Manuni khad in Khaniyar, Kangra on 26 June 2025. Source: Himachal Abhi Abhi)
In a tragic incident several workers of under construction Indira Priyadarshini Hydel Project are missing after a ‘cloudburst’ induced flash flood struck the project site on June 25, 2025. The 4.8 Mw (2.4 X 2) small hydro power project is being developed by Indira Priyadarshini Hydro Power Pvt Ltd (IPHPPL) on Manuni khad near Sokani Da Kot village under Khaniyara post office of Dharamshala tehsil in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. Manuni khad is a tributary of Baner River in Beas basin. The construction work started in Dec 2019 & was scheduled for commissioning in May 2026.
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Message after 50 yrs of Gharial conservation: Save Rivers if we really want to save Gharials
The Central message after fifty years of Gharial Conservation effort since 1975 is that Gharial’s fate remains precarious. It seems like a species living on borrowed time, forever on the verge of extinction. It is living thanks to a few scientists, forest officials and some riverside communities. And if we really want to save Gharials, we must save rivers, the habitat of Gharials from sand mining, dams and pollution.
If the next 50 years of Gharial conservation are to be more successful than the last, India will need to protect not just a species, but an entire ecosystem. Gharials can be saved only if their habitat, rivers can be saved. India showed the will to save tigers starting early 1970s, but is there a will to save some of the rivers to save gharials?
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Dams, Rivers & People-June 23 2025: Solar pumps threatening Groundwater Sustainability?
(Feature Image Source: PM KUSUM Booklet)
Can Solar pumps threaten groundwater sustainability? The answer is yes. Without integrated water and energy governance India’s solar irrigation drive may worsen environmental stress, say experts. Along with the energy benefits, there are invisible consequences of solar pumps – excess water extraction and energy going waste.
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